Melted my hose!

eljay · Post by **eljay** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:28 am

I bought the Zoo Med Repti Heat cable and have been delighted with the results--absolutely no rainout! However, yesterday I forgot to unplug it before I left for work, and apparently part of the hose was underneath my pillow. When I turned my APAP on last night, there was no air, so I started investigating and discoverd that the Repti heat cable had melted the plastic on the hose on the section that had been underneath the pillow! I had already been spooked by the fact that I left it plugged in all day and was just thinking "Gosh, I'm glad I didn't burn the house down" but when I saw the melted hose it really shook me up! Has this happened to anyone else? I'm going to keep using the heat cable, because it is so nice not to deal with any rainout, but thought I would share my experience as a warning to always double check that you've unplugged the heat cable when you're not using the CPAP!

Pineapple · Post by **Pineapple** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:40 am

I was afraid I would do the same thing so I bought a timer to plug my Repti Cable into. I set it to turn on around my normal bed time and turn off at the same time as my alarm goes off.

Arizona-Willie · Post by **Arizona-Willie** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:42 am

Anything that gets that hot should NEVER be used around bedding.

Might as well smoke in bed and go to sleep.

If it melted the hose because it was under the pillow during the day it could do the same thing -- or worse -- at night.

Might only take the right set of circumstances such as the right humidity etc. to cause an actual fire with you sleeping in the bed.

Move to Arizona like the most of the rest of the US and you won't have any more problem with humidity in your air hose.

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:40 am

And if you can't afford to move into Willie's house the timer is a good idea. I plugged mine into a power strip and use a control from an old electric blanket. Not only does this allow me to turn down my 25watt heater cable when the weather changes (like NOW) but I can also leave it off while I warm the HC150.

You don't say which size heater (how many watts) you bought but I seem to recall that you should not overlap the wires either. Overlapping can increase the amount of heat applied and cause problems.

GumbyCT - who was thinking about buying a 15 watt cable for the warmer months and a shorter hose. I can just use my blanky control on the new cable, too.

jsmythe · Post by **jsmythe** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:57 am

I have a 15 watt cable and use it with a hose cover. I have forgot to unplug mine several times, but not with it under pillow or covers! It does not seem to get that warm...just enough to prevent the rain-out. Like Gumby said, what wattage was your heater cable? That may have had a lot to do with it. The Aussie heated hose is only 15 watts also.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:58 am

The problem comes from the fact, when the XPAP is turned off the air flow stops, allowing the heat cable to become much hotter than it does with the air flowing. Any heating device can be a fire hazard if used incorrectly. Jim

Smokey the bear says: "Only You can Prevent BED Fires"!

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:32 am

[quote="eljay"]I bought the Zoo Med Repti Heat cable and have been delighted with the results--absolutely no rainout! However, yesterday I forgot to unplug it before I left for work, and apparently part of the hose was underneath my pillow. When I turned my APAP on last night, there was no air, so I started investigating and discoverd that the Repti heat cable had melted the plastic on the hose on the section that had been underneath the pillow! I had already been spooked by the fact that I left it plugged in all day and was just thinking "Gosh, I'm glad I didn't burn the house down" but when I saw the melted hose it really shook me up! Has this happened to anyone else? I'm going to keep using the heat cable, because it is so nice not to deal with any rainout, but thought I would share my experience as a warning to always double check that you've unplugged the heat cable when you're not using the CPAP!

eljay · Post by **eljay** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:26 pm

I bought a timer to plug my Repti Cable into

Great idea! I'm going to go buy a timer tonight!

Move to Arizona like the most of the rest of the US and you won't have any more problem with humidity in your air hose.

Uh, thanks for the suggestion, but it's a just a little to dry out there for this southern gal!

You don't say which size heater (how many watts) you bought but I seem to recall that you should not overlap the wires either. Overlapping can increase the amount of heat applied and cause problems.

It's the 15 watt cable, and the wires aren't overlapped. I secured the cable to the hose at the mask end with a twist tie, then slid the cable and hose into the snuggle hose cover, and let the cable come out the end at the machine.

I have forgot to unplug mine several times, but not with it under pillow or covers!

I think the pillow might have been the real problem. It's a memory foam pillow, so it's pretty heavy and really held the heat in.

Smokey the bear says: "Only You can Prevent BED Fires"!

And I work for the Forest Service! Smokey would be so disappointed in me!

I don't think anyone else was dumb enough to use a "Reptile" heater on their cpap hose, but I could be wrong.

What am I missing here? I agree it was dumb to leave it plugged in all day, but I thought other folks were using it on their hose....

Pineapple · Post by **Pineapple** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:51 pm

viewtopic.php?t=27579

viewtopic.php?t=29504&highlight=bap40

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:25 pm

IDEA , I can buy a dozen of these and put them under the lower sheet. Then I won't have to buy a new electric blanket. I hope I don't have to explain the stripes, (on my body), to anyone. Like going to work looking like a grilled breakfast sandwitch. Jim

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:47 pm

I lose my mind when my girlfriend leaves the curling iron on. Personally, when I am sleeping or just waking up, I don't want to have to remember to deal with something that might potentially burn my house down. Its hard enough for me to make a cup of coffee, or remember to lift the seat...

Is this really about something that is used to keep reptiles warm? If so, count on any misfortune that may come making it into the thinning of the heard category in news of the weird.

HelpMeBreath · Post by **HelpMeBreath** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:49 pm

herd.. not heard.. Sorry

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:55 pm

Anonymous wrote:I lose my mind when my girlfriend leaves the curling iron on. Personally, when I am sleeping or just waking up, I don't want to have to remember to deal with something that might potentially burn my house down. Its hard enough for me to make a cup of coffee, or remember to lift the seat...

Is this really about something that is used to keep reptiles warm? If so, count on any misfortune that may come making it into the thinning of the heard category in news of the weird.

On the good side, "Roasted Reptiles" are tasty with the right sauce. Jim

Bearded_One · Post by **Bearded_One** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:24 pm

I have the Aussie heated hose and I haven't noticed any hot spots. I don't use a humidifier, but the Aussie heated hose kept my nose from getting numb from cold this past winter.

Melted my hose!

Melted my hose!

No no no no

Re: Melted my hose!

Humidifier